Earthmaster Environmental Consulting
Services

Urban Naturalization

Urban Naturalization is a strategy for reintroducing or incorporating native plant species into urban settings. This approach more accurately mirrors a native ecosystem and fosters a sustainable plant community that is more resilient to heat and drought. It enhances biodiversity, lowers maintenance expenses, minimizes herbicide usage, and bolsters the pollinator population. Urban Naturalization can be implemented in areas with pre-existing non-native turfgrass, brownfields, or new development zones.

Wild flowers bordering the highway

Orange and yellow petal wildflowers amongst tall grasses

Forward-thinking

Urban naturalization solutions enhance sustainability, ecological function, and reduce costs and emissions in the long-run.

Proven alternatives

Earthmaster's work replaced roadside turfgrass with a prairie meadow abundant with native species within 3 years.

Project

Calgary Urban Naturalization Project

Earthmaster was hired by The City of Calgary to naturalize a 5-hectare roadside site, replacing turfgrass with wildflower and grass mix. Initially blanketed with an annual flower cover crop, it became a prairie meadow with native species within 3 years.

The turfgrass was mowed, de-thatched, and treated with herbicide, leaving stubble to support seeding. A mix of annual and perennial wildflower and grass seeds, following the City of Calgary Seed Mixes guide, was sown using a no-till seed drill in mid-June. To aid pollinators, 15 solitary and 15 social bee boxes were installed.

Despite late planting and harsh conditions, a variety of flowers and grasses thrived. Replacing turfgrass with native species will lower maintenance, support pollinators, and offer resilience to extreme weather. This approach enhances sustainability, ecological function, and reduces costs and emissions.

Status

Completed

Services

Initial site conditions

Initial site conditions. 0% physical turfgrass removal required prior to seeding.

Installation of seed

Installation of seed.

Social bee box

Social bee box.

Solitary bee box

Solitary bee box.

Flower growth 3 months post seeding

Flower growth 3 months post seeding.

Flower growth 3 months post seeding

11 species of native grasses were established on the site.

Clarkia amoena flower

Clarkia amoena flower.

Annual sunflower

Annual Sunflower.

Native bumble bee

Native bumblebee. 3,000/ha bees found on the site after flowering plants established (none before).

California poppy

California poppy.

Mixture of salt tolerant plants on the median

Mixture of salt tolerant plants on the median. Maintenance requirements including mowing were reduced by 75%.

Orange and yellow petal wildflowers amongst tall grasses

This approach enhances sustainability, ecological function, and reduces costs and emissions.

Despite late planting and harsh conditions, a variety of flowers and grasses thrived.

Common questions

Earthmaster helps municipalities determine the right urban naturalization solutions for their climate. In some cases, we replace turfgrass with native grasses and wildflowers. We conduct expert soil analysis to guide vegetation strategies, especially in challenging urban locations like roadsides and medians. We also develop and implement strategies to support native pollinators, including building and installing bee motels.